When to create a course variant
You should create a course variant after completing the Subject and Course Entry pages in Course Publisher.
You should not create a course before it has received stage one approval from the Programmes & Partnerships Approval Committee.
Most courses have more than one page on the website because of the different awards available and the options for placements and studying abroad. The information you enter into the Course Variant page will only show on the specific course variant's page on the website.
This guide does not explain all the fields in Course Publisher but covers those that need detailed explanation or standardised copy. You should use the template for creating a course variant as well as this guide.
Writing accurately and clearly
All our content must comply with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
Read our guide for writing Course Search content that complies with the CMA.
Adding course details
Course entry and Course title
Choose the name of the course from the 'Course entry' drop-down menu, then enter the course's name again in the 'Course title' using title case.
The 'Course entry' name will pull through all the information shared by the course variants. The 'Course title' field will appear on that course's page on the website.
Course option
Add the variant for the course, for example, a placement year or study abroad.
Start your entry with the word ‘with’ in lower case to add the variant to the end of the course title. For example, if the course title is 'Chemistry with Management', 'with a placement year' will be added automatically.
KIS ID
To find the KIS ID, go to https://unistats.direct.gov.uk and search for the course. Make sure you select the University of Bath course, then copy the KIS ID from the Overview page URL, shown here in bold:
https://unistats.direct.gov.uk/Subjects/Overview/10007850FT-UUUM1-B230~USPA-AFM03
Undergraduate master’s course detail
Add details of the master’s degree if one is offered. This only applies to undergraduate courses and will be combined with the ‘Course detail’ content from the Course Entry page.
Adding the course structure
To add the course structure, you can either select the appropriate periods from the drop-down menu or list the periods in the 'Alternative course structure' field using Markdown to create a bullet list.
Adding unit lists
Units
Add the units for each period of study, using Markdown to create a bullet list and link each one to the relevant web page.
Popular or interesting optional units
List up to 5 optional units, using Markdown to create a bullet list and link each one to the relevant web page.
Writing the placement description
Describe the course’s placement or internship, including the benefits to the student, examples of employers and the disclaimer to say that opportunities are not guaranteed.
Use this standard copy for the placements disclaimer to be consistent with other courses:
'We cannot guarantee placement opportunities.'
Writing about contact time with staff
Explain how students’ time is split between being taught and studying independently in their first year.
Use this standard copy format to be consistent with other courses:
'In your first year, you should expect to spend [%] of your time in a lecture or seminar setting and [%] of your time in independent study.'
You can add more details after this sentence if necessary.
Writing about extra costs
Enter any extra costs associated with the course, including textbooks, printing, fieldwork and travel to a work placement.
Use this standard copy to be consistent with other courses:
'You need to pay extra costs for most courses. As well as buying text books, you should budget at least £100 a year for photocopying, printing and binding. Some courses involve trips away from the University. You may need to pay for travel, accommodation and food if you go on one of these trips. If you choose to go on a placement, you are responsible for your travel, accommodation and living costs. You should also consider the financial implications of an unpaid or overseas placement.'
You can add course-specific details after this if necessary.